Translation and Meaning of: 誰 - tare

The Japanese word 誰[たれ] is a fundamental term for those learning the language or curious about its structure. In this article, we will explore its meaning, everyday use, and some cultural particularities that make it interesting. If you have ever wondered how Japanese people ask questions or express doubts about others, understanding 誰 is a great starting point.

In addition to being a common word in dialogues, 誰 also appears in formal and informal contexts, making it versatile. Let’s dive into details such as its spelling, pronunciation, and even tips for memorizing it effectively. If you use Suki Nihongo, the best online Japanese dictionary, you may have already come across it in example sentences or vocabulary lists.

Meaning and use of 誰[たれ]

誰 is an interrogative pronoun that means "who." It is used to ask questions about a person's identity, whether in everyday situations or in more specific contexts. For example, in an informal conversation, someone might ask "誰が来たの？" (Who came?), demonstrating its direct and practical use.

An important characteristic of 誰 is that it has no variation in gender or number, which simplifies its learning. Unlike Portuguese, where "quem" can be combined with articles or prepositions, in Japanese the word maintains its basic form in most cases. This makes it one of the first interrogative words that students tend to master.

Writing and pronunciation of 誰

The kanji 誰 is composed of the radical 言 (which relates to speech or language) combined with other strokes. This composition reinforces its connection to questions and communication. The most common reading is たれ (tare), but in some formal or regional contexts, it can appear as だれ (dare), especially in combinations like 誰か (someone).

In pronunciation, it's important to pay attention to the tone and context. While たれ sounds more neutral, だれ can carry a slightly more polite or emphatic tone. Students often confuse these nuances at first, but with practice and exposure to real dialogues, the difference becomes clearer.

Tips to memorize and use 誰

One effective way to reinforce 誰 is to associate it with simple everyday questions. Creating sentences like "誰の本ですか？" (Whose book is this?) or "誰と話しましたか？" (Who did you talk to?) helps internalize its use. Many Japanese learning apps, including Suki Nihongo, offer exercises focused on this type of construction.

Another tip is to pay attention to how the word appears in animes, dramas, or songs. Because it is frequent in dialogues, 誰 naturally stands out. Observing these real contexts not only reinforces memorization but also teaches subtle variations of tone and formality that books do not always cover.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• だれ (dare) - Who; used generally to ask about a person's identity.
• どなた (donata) - Who; a more polite and respectful way to ask about someone's identity.
• いずれ (izure) - Who; used to refer to someone unspecified, usually in an indefinite future.

誰

Romaji: tare
Kana: たれ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: adjective suffix for a person

Meaning in English: adjectival suffix for a person

Definition: human. If nothing is specified, it refers to "person" in a general sense.

Example Sentences - (誰) tare

See below some example sentences:

誰か来たか？

Dareka kitaka?

Did anyone come?

Did anyone come?

• 誰か (dareka) - someone
• 来た (kita) - came
• か？ (ka?) - interrogative particle

誰か助けてください。

Dareka tasukete kudasai

Someone help me

help me.

• 誰か (dareka) - someone
• 助けて (tasukete) - help
• ください (kudasai) - Please

背後に誰かいるかもしれない。

Ushiro ni dareka iru kamoshirenai

Pode haver alguém atrás de mim.

Maybe someone behind.

• 背後に - indicates the location "behind"
• 誰か - means "someone"
• いる - Verb "to be" in the present
• かもしれない - expression that indicates possibility, "it could be that"

この事件の推定犯人は誰ですか？

Kono jiken no suitei hannin wa dare desu ka?

Who is the suspect in this incident?

Who is the estimated culprit in this case?

• この - demonstrative "this"
• 事件 - noun "incident"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 推定 - noun "estimate"
• 犯人 - noun "criminal"
• は - topic particle "は"
• 誰 - interrogative pronoun "who"
• ですか - interrogative particle "is?"

この仕事の候補者は誰ですか？

Kono shigoto no kouhosha wa dare desu ka?

Who are the candidates for this work?

Who is the candidate for this work?

• この - demonstrative "this"
• 仕事 - "work"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 候補者 - noun "candidate"
• は - topic particle "about"
• 誰 - interrogative pronoun "who"
• です - verb "ser/estar" in the polite form
• か - interrogative particle

この小説の作者は誰ですか？

Kono shousetsu no sakusha wa dare desu ka?

Who is the author of this novel?

• この - demonstrative "this"
• 小説 - noun "romance"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 作者 - noun "author"
• は - topic particle "は"
• 誰 - interrogative pronoun "who"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form
• か - interrogative particle "?"

この本の著者は誰ですか？

Kono hon no chosha wa dare desu ka?

Who is the author of this book?

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 本 - noun meaning "book"
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
• 著者 - noun that means "author"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 誰 - interrogative pronoun meaning "who"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form
• か - Particle that indicates a question

この者は誰ですか？

Kono mono wa dare desu ka?

Who is this person?

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 者 - noun that means "person"
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 誰 - interrogative pronoun meaning "who"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form
• か - interrogative particle indicating a question

向こうに誰かいますか？

Mukou ni dareka imasu ka?

Is there anyone over there on the other side?

Is there anyone there?

• 向こう - "on the other side"
• に - particle indicating location
• 誰か - "someone"
• いますか - polite way of asking if someone is present

彼女は私を除く誰も招待しなかった。

Kanojo wa watashi o nozoku daremo shōtai shinakatta

She didn't invite anyone but me.

She didn't invite me except me.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - she
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私 (watashi) - I
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 除く (nokoru) - except
• 誰も (daremo) - nobody
• 招待 (shoutai) - invitation
• しなかった (shinakatta) - did not